Monday, March 4, 2013

Today in Labor History—March 4

March 4, 1865
- Union Stockyards opened in Chicago, establishing the Windy City as
the world's largest meat packing center by the end of the decade.
Thousands of workers migrated to Chicago to work in the yards, leading
to the organizing of numerous unions and the establishment of Chicago as
one of the nation’s union strongholds. (From Workday Minnesota)

March 4, 1908 -- Lakeview School, in Collinwood, Ohio, caught fire, with 174 children and two teachers dying as a result. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 4, 1910—The
Industrial Workers of the World won their free speech fight in Spokane,
Washington, when the licenses of 18 “employment” agencies were revoked.
The campaign was intended to dissuade workers from “buying” jobs in the
streets from the job sharks (“employment” agencies) that routinely
swindled workers. The fight began in late 1908 and continued through
1909. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 4, 1937 – TheUAW
won their sit-down strike in Flint, Michigan. The strike at the Fisher
Body Plant Number One lasted 40 days and was the longest sit-down strike
in history. 5,000 armed workers circled the plant to protect the
workers inside. Following police attacks with tear-gas, workers fought
back with fire hoses. 13 workers were injured by police gunfire. By the
time the National Guard arrived, sympathy strikes had spread to GM
plants across the country. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 4, 1989
- The International Association of Machinists struck Eastern Airlines,
with 8,500 ramp service workers, mechanics, aircraft cleaners and stock
clerks joined by 6,000 flight attendants and 3,400 pilots in the
nationwide strike. (From Workday Minnesota)